Vintage Thermos Bottles

Invented in 1892 by a scientist at Oxford University in London, the “vacuum flask” eventually came to be referred to as a Thermos in 1904 when a German company known as Thermos GmbH manufactured it for commercial use. In 1907, it sold the trademark to three different companies—in England, Canada and the United States—which operated independently of each other. The American Thermos Bottle Company was the U.S. manufacturer of the versatile product, which became sought after for outfitting adventures and expeditions around the world. By the 1950s, the vacuum bottles were a popular choice with consumers for storing foods and beverages. The metal exteriors of vintage thermoses are often patterned, with plaids and stripes being popular motifs. Some are topped with a plastic cup.

Arlington, Washington, collector Susan Burris’ love of plaid started with an old thermos purchased 10 years ago, and she’s since gathered many more of the vintage treasures. Susan gets help from her husband, Spencer, spying new additions at estate sales and thrift stores. “They don’t have to be perfect and some don’t have lids,” she says. “I just get the ones I like.” Susan especially enjoys incorporating thermoses with red and green designs into her Christmas and Fourth of July decorating. She reports that the price range for a vintage thermos is between $5 and $18. (Susan and Spencer’s festive patriotic home was featured in the Country Sampler July 2019 article, “All-American Vintage,” pages 38–47.)